NORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Ross said Friday that redistricting has helped turn Congress more partisan by creating fewer competitive districts and more seats that are essentially decided during party primaries.

The Arkansas Democrat told members of the Political Animals Club that expensive redistricting fights have created more safe seats for both parties. He said that change has led to fewer moderate lawmakers willing to work with both parties.

“As a result, there’s very few people in the middle who want to work together to get the job done,” Ross told the club, which meets regularly to hear from elected officials and other political figures. “For an overwhelming majority of 435 members of Congress, the safest route for them to take is to do whatever their national party leaders tell them to do because all they have to fear is a party primary.”

Ross is a co-sponsor of legislation that would require states to redraw congressional boundaries using an independent commission.

Ross is the only Democratic congressman in Arkansas and has led the moderate to conservative Democrats known as Blue Dogs. Ross announced last year that he wouldn’t seek another term representing southern Arkansas’ 4th District and earlier this year said he would pass on a widely expected 2014 run for governor.

Ross’ district was redrawn last year and added traditionally Republican areas in northwest Arkansas. Democratic nominee Gene Jeffress, a state senator, faces an uphill battle to keep the seat as he runs against Republican Tom Cotton, an Army veteran.

Ross said his decision to retire from Congress had nothing to do with the way the Arkansas Legislature redrew his district.

Ross said he had planned on running for governor when his term ended, but has enjoyed spending more time with his family and not having to worry about raising money. Ross estimated that since his 2000 run for Congress, he’s had to raise an average of $2,500 a day throughout his campaigns.

“It used to be that we only did politics on even years and we’d actually make policy on odd years,” Ross said “Now we never make policy. It’s politics 24-7 the entire two year term.”